How do I use my computer as an Answering Machine?

I have a sound file that i want to be on my landline phone as an answering machine. Problem is, the phone and the computer are pretty distant from one another. I was wondering, among the slightly obvious answers (aka, holding the phone to the speaker...

on old modem or ADSL

Well, it's not really the answering machine that is dumb, but I AM. There is a luddite crisis going on here or my ADD is really flaring up. My telephone answering machine is broken and after 20 years, it doesn't make sense to repair it. I have a terrible...

My old computer had a really neat program that you could use as long as you plugged in a phone cord to it. It worked as both an answering machine, but you could also make calls from the computer (free!) since it was already hooked up to your phone line...

What type of audio/speech compression is used for the at&t e2725b phone with answering machine? Is their any digital answering machine that has the best sound quality?

HP1040 Fax machine. I tried the TAM mode. The answering machine works but the fax machine won't receive any faxes.

I've saved some cute messages from my kids on my digital answering machine. I'd like to clear the machine, but save them on a CD or my hard drive without losing too much quality. What format would they be in, and how could I best make the transfer?

When ever someone calls, I am ever to lazy to answer the phone and let it go to the answering machine, my computer will get disconnected from the wifi, and shortly after will re-connect. This really doesn't bother me, but I do play online games, and...